Tuesday, Jun 18, 2013
MOSCOW (AFP)--The planned peace conference in Geneva to end the conflict in Syria should not imply any capitulation on the part of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying Tuesday.
"We are categorically against... assertions that the conference should be some kind of public act of capitulation by the government delegation followed by a handing over of power to the opposition," Lavrov told Kuwaiti news agency KUNA in an interview, the text of which was published by the Russian foreign ministry.
Lavrov was also quoted as saying that Russia believes it is time to consider relaxing sanctions pressure on Iran, amid hope of progress in the standoff over its nuclear program.
"It is necessary to avoid tightening the sanctions pressure against Tehran and start thinking about ways for a possible weakening (of sanctions) in a way that is tangible for Iran," Lavrov said in the interview, commenting after the recent victory of moderate Hassan Rowhani in Iran's presidential election.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
18-06-13 0934GMT
